A 56-year-old Nigerian-Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for allegedly trafficking Papua New Guinean students and forcing them into unpaid farm labour across Queensland under the guise of offering educational scholarships.
Abubakar, who was primarily based in Papua New Guinea, was apprehended on Wednesday at Brisbane Airport upon arriving from Port Moresby. Her arrest is the result of a two-year investigation by the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team, which began in July 2022 following a tip-off from Queensland Police.
According to police reports, Abubakar is accused of luring at least 15 Papua New Guinean nationals between the ages of 19 and 35 to Australia between March 2021 and July 2023. Operating under her company, BIN Educational Services and Consulting, she allegedly promised full educational scholarships and a pathway to brighter futures. The company advertised a “holistic and modern approach to education, training, and employment” on its website.
However, the AFP revealed that instead of attending school, the victims were allegedly coerced into unpaid labour on fruit farms in Lockyer Valley and Stanthorpe. Upon arrival, they were reportedly forced to sign a series of legal documents obligating them to repay vague and inflated costs related to tuition, airfares, visa processing, insurance, and legal services.
To settle these supposed debts, the victims were allegedly made to work gruelling hours—10 hours a day, seven days a week—often in breach of their visa conditions. Police say that their wages were collected and withheld by Abubakar.
“The farmers involved were unaware of Abubakar’s alleged exploitation scheme,” the AFP stated.
Further allegations indicate that Abubakar used threats and intimidation to control the victims. Those who resisted or failed to comply were reportedly threatened with deportation or warned that their families in Papua New Guinea would face consequences.
Abubakar now faces 31 criminal charges, including:
- 4 counts of human trafficking,
- 14 counts of deceptive recruitment for labour or services, and
- 13 counts of engaging in conduct causing a person to enter into debt bondage.
She was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear in court on September 19, 2025.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer condemned the exploitation, describing the case as a disturbing example of modern slavery.
“Victims of debt bondage and human trafficking are often enticed to Australia with false promises of education or employment,” he said. “When those promises change, it leaves individuals in extremely vulnerable situations—isolated, without financial support, and often unable to speak the language.”
Telfer encouraged the public to report suspected cases of exploitation, emphasizing the AFP’s commitment to victim welfare. “We want people to know the AFP can help. We remain focused on protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.”
This case surfaces less than two months after authorities in Germany arrested 13 suspected members of a Nigerian organized crime group, highlighting growing international concerns over human trafficking and migrant exploitation.
